The 2024-25 school year is coming to an end, giving us an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come on our educational journeys. While some students are now graduating from high school and pursuing higher education at colleges and universities, others are advancing to the next grade level. Both of these academic accomplishments require a lot of effort, dedication and time from students, making education an essential part of our lives. The major role that education plays in shaping our daily routines can also be demonstrated with some data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). According to the NCES, the average American student will spend over 1,231 hours in classrooms by the time they graduate high school. This data illustrates the important role that education plays on a student’s life. This estimated amount of time spent in classrooms however, is not the only way in which a student’s life is impacted by their academics, as they are often reminded about them outside of school, through expectations. Expectations are a major factor that impact the lives of students, as they hold a lot of power over students, often reminding them about the importance of their academic performance, and even giving them more pressure than what they already face on a daily basis.
High school freshman Valeria Garcia talks about this occurrence. “They [expectations] make me overthink things, and they get embedded into my memory,” Garcia said.
It is safe to say that while education plays a major role in our lives, the expectations that come from it do as well, and they do not only exist in-school, but they also continue outside of it. Due to how present they are in the lives of students, these expectations certainly affect them, both mentally and academically.
Godinez Fundamental High School freshman Emanuela Lai elaborated on the effects expectations have had on her academic performance.
“Academic expectations have changed the way I see my own abilities, especially if the standards are higher because it feels like I have to achieve or do more to achieve them. It makes me feel like I do have the ability and motivates me to keep going,” Lai said.
Lai’s expression highlights how academic expectations have had a positive impact on her academic performance which has encouraged her to continue her dedication towards her education. These expectations have also helped her become more confident in her abilities to reach them, making it easier for her to achieve those goals.
On the other hand, Garcia shares about her own personal experience with the pressure of expectations.
“I believe that academic expectations make my own abilities feel weakened as my goals are growing higher and more difficult to accomplish. This makes me have to greatly improve my efforts to achieve them,” Garcia said.
With this statement, Garcia reveals that expectations have made her doubt her own ability to complete her expected accomplishments. This occurrence has led her to change her approach towards these goals, making her feel as if she has to work harder towards achieving them.
This provides insight into the emotional effect that the pressure of expectations can have on students. Lai further explains how she has been emotionally affected by the expectations created by her parents.
“Sometimes I feel a mixture of both motivation and stress because one, there's a sense of being proud because they believe in my capability, but two there's stress that I can't fully live up to their standards,” Lai said.
Lai’s statement reveals that expectations can be encouraging due to her family believing that she is capable of completing high achievements. However, it also provides us with the insight that such expectations can cause a lot of pressure and can lead to additional stress, which can be detrimental to the mental health of students.
Additionally, Garcia talked about her own previous experiences with the way she has been emotionally affected by this type of pressure.
“High expectations have caused stress, and have caused me to feel overwhelmed by them,” Garcia said.
From the amount of hours spent in classrooms, to the hours spent completing assignments at home, education plays a major part in the daily routines of students, and does not fail to make itself present through academic expectations. The personal experiences of these two students provide insight that makes it clear expectations can play both a positive and negative role in the lives of students.
While they can push students to achieve their full potential and motivate them to accomplish higher goals, expectations can also be a source of stress, due to the additional pressure they create. The fear of failing to meet these expectations is also another factor that impacts the mental well-being of students. All of this can negatively affect the mental health of students, making it more difficult for them to focus on their learning.
